Andy Burns invited to major league camp with Toronto Blue Jays

Rocky Mountain grad making steady progress through minor leagues

Jan. 23, 2014

Rocky Mountain High School graduate Andy Burns, shown in a game with the New Hampshire Fisher Cats, played the second half of the 2013 season in Double-A and has been invited to the Toronto Blue Jays major league camp in spring training. / Photo courtesy New Hampshire Fisher Cats

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Andy Burns file

• 2011: Drafted in the 11th round by the Toronto Blue Jays. Sent to Vancouver Canadians, a Class-A short-season affiliate, where Burns helped the club to a Provincial Premier Baseball League Championship. • 2012: Moved up to Low-A Lansing, Mich., where he helped the team to a first-half title. • 2013: Broke in with Class-A advanced affiliate Dunedin (Fla.) Blue Jays, where Burns helped the team to a first-half title. Called up to Double-A New Hampshire Fisher Cats midseason and hit .253 in 64 games. • Career minor league stats: 128 games, .288 average, 34 doubles, 15 home runs, 85 RBI.

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As Andy Burns climbs the minor league baseball ladder, he faces increased pressure, but he’s also getting special opportunities.

Burns, a 2008 Rocky Mountain High School graduate, has been invited to the Tornoto Blue Jays spring training camp for the first time since being drafted by the Blue Jays in the 11th round in 2011 out of the University of Arizona.

“It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be around guys that have done it and see what they do and get an idea of what it takes and maybe pick up a few things,” Burns said Wednesday while in Fort Collins. “There’s so much knowledge to be learned.”

When he gets to spring training in Dunedin, Fla. Burns will be looking to build on a 2013 season that saw him play the first half of the season in Single-A before being promoted midseason to the Blue Jays’ Double-A affiliate in New Hampshire.

Burns hit .327 with eight home runs and 53 RBI in 64 games in Single-A. He struggled early on at the Double-A level with the New Hampshire Fisher Cats, but said he adjusted well as the season wore on.

He finished with a .253 average, seven home runs and 32 RBI in 64 games in New Hampshire and says there was a world of change in his comfort from when he was first called up.

“The more games you play and get under your belt at every level, you start to see improvements and find what works and what doesn’t,” Burns said. “It’s definitely a jump, and a lot of people say it’s the toughest jump to make in baseball on the professional side. I had struggles and I had to get adjusted.”

That the third basemen was invited to the Blue Jays major league camp is a good sign of his growth. He says he doesn’t know what level he’ll be placed at to start the season.

He’s spent most of the offseason in Fort Collins where he’s been able to catch up with teammates from Rocky, where Burns was part of two state titles during the Lobos‘ run of four-consecutive championships from 2007-10.

He’s been working out at Choice Baseball Training, 1800 E. Harmony Road, with Philadelphia Phillies prospect and Mountain View High School graduate Logan Moore.

In his three years as a pro, Burns has gotten used to the lifestyle of finding month-to-month leases and seeing close friends told they can’t cut it. He’s also seen friends realize their dreams in the majors. Despite everyone competing for a few spots at the highest level, Burns said he hasn’t experienced a dog-eat-dog atmosphere with his teams.

“You’re trying to get to the next level for you, but I think that being on a team and winning on that team is how you become successful on your own,” Burns said. “From a team aspect, you care about the people you play with because you spend so much time with them. I don’t think its cutthroat, but it’s definitely very competitive.”

Follow sports reporter Kevin Lytle at twitter.com/Kevin_Lytle and at facebook.com/KevinSLytle.